BLOUNT COUNTY FIRE & EMS ASSOCIATION
MINUTES OF MARCH 17, 2015 MEETING
SUSAN MOORE FIRE DEPARTMENT
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Jon Head. Chief Gilbert gave the invocation. The following member organizations were represented: Allgood, Bangor, Blountsville, Brooksville, Cleveland, Holly Springs, Locust Fork, Mt. High, Murphree Valley, Nectar, Oneonta, Pine Mountain, Remlap, Ricetown, Rosa, Snead, St. Mountain, Summit, Susan Moore and West Blount. EMA, 9·1·1, Forestry, Special Ops, BREMSS, Blount EMS, AMED, Law Enforcement, Coroner, LifeSaver, Air-Evac, Red Cross and the District Attorney Office were also represented. 9·1·1 Director Caleb Branch, Supervisor Neal Brooks and Board Member Chief Bob Sanford were present. A total of 40 people signed the attendance sheet
GUESTS – Tammy Pierce and Blount EMS sponsored the meal. Blount County District 2 Commissioner Carthal Self was present and handed out checks to the departments in his District. He thanked everyone for their service, dedication and sacrifice to the citizens of Blount County. Johnny West of MES Fire Equipment and Tommy Liverett of DEC Fire & Water Restoration were also present.
Chairman Head asked for the approval of the minutes of the February, 2015 meeting. Motion by Chief Payne, seconded by Chief Booth, and carried by voice vote. The Financial Report was approved by a motion from Chief Glass, seconded by Chief Hill, and carried by voice vote. All departments have paid their 2015 Membership Dues.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
CHAIRMAN – Chairman Head discussed the advantages of enrolling in a group Workmen's Comp program through the Association. Expected costs could be as low as $43.00 per department member. Chief Ledbetter will be tasked with the job of gathering and distributing information and completing the enrollment process. There are still some opportunities for Association meeting sponsorship throughout the remainder of the year. Chiefs are encouraged to make those contacts and secure a meal sponsor for the meetings hosted at their departments. Many of the member departments will be involved in ISO surveys this year. It was suggested that departments can research information at www.isomitigation.com. Departments can look at ISO forms to complete pre-inspection information. Departments should have their training records up to date and have their structure fire response numbers complete. A preliminary report of potential AAVFD officers was given listing all incumbents and no new names at this time. Chief Willis encouraged everyone to attend some portion of the SEFCA Conference to held at the BJCC June 18-20. Saturday, June 20, will offer the better chance for volunteers to attend and see what is presented.
EMA – Director Don Roybal explained that EMA will install the WEBEOC program which is a web-based information ICS tracking system to assist with information flow during an incident. This can be viewed by multiple agencies and ICS job titles and those agencies can input information so everyone sees the same operational real-time situation at the same time, regardless of location. The LEPC met recently and Community Response Plans will be initiated with the involvement of local fire departments who have chemical / hazardous materials storage facilities in their coverage areas. EMA is investigating grant possibilities for a mass notification system that would allow the public to voluntarily sign-up for warning notifications concerning all-hazards incidents. Fuelman for the month of February was at 60% of the monthly budget.
9·1·1/COMMUNICATIONS – Director Caleb Branch asked that you notify him if you have any new fire hydrants or changes in hydrants so they can get them mapped. After CAD upgrades are complete there will not be any run reports sent by fax. All will be done by email so make sure the 911 Center has a good email address for your department. Everyone is encouraged to go to the 911 website at http://blount911.org/ to update your information regarding your house and address. There have been some communication issues regarding cross talking and multiple POV traffic. Departments are encouraged to use talk-around to report POV traffic and on-scene communication. Communication classes have been conducted at various departments with very good response by those who went through them. There was some discussion to make Communication Training a mandatory class for all departments at regular intervals.
TRAINING – Chief Willis reported that 17 people from several different counties and departments completed the recent Ropes Training. A Mobile Water Supply & Tanker Ops class will be held at holly Springs on April 26, 19, 22 & 25. 160 class will be held at West Blount soon. Oneonta will host 3 opportunities for an Autism Awareness class on April 9, 10 & 11 – 3 dates to chose from but attend only one. Call Station 12 to register. Rosa will host a 160 class on B shift starting possibly mid-April. Everyone was reminded to check the Training tab on the Association website at http://www.blountcofireandemsassociation.org/ .
FIRE PREVENTION – Joe Ray Dailey discussed some options for the Blount County Fair booth this year. Input is invited.
FORESTRY – No report.
SPECIAL OPS – Chief Willis stated that the HAZMAT 1 truck has been sold and the Special
Ops team is putting together specs for a multi-use vehicle that will provide for the needs of the
team.
ST. VINCENTS BLOUNT – No report from STV-B but a comment from the membership was offered detailing tremendous patient care by the hospital staff for a family member.
BREMSS – John Reed requested that everyone visit the BREMSS Facebook page. He reported that there are issues with the current CPR intent to train forms. There are pool positions at TCC for paramedics. The statewide stroke and STEMI system is to be expanded. The national Registry renewal process is in the last days so he encouraged those that need to renew to go through that process. After April 1 State, Regional & local county level meetings will begin for CONED. Humurus IO is expected to be approved by the next protocol updates. The Protocol Subcommittee nominated John Dennis of Jemison Fire as the BREMSS representative. Expect new books for CPR training in November or December.
Blount EMS – Tammy thanked the Association for the opportunity to sponsor the meal and also for what all the departments do for her and her ambulance crews. She stressed that the goal of Blount EMS was to get an ambulance to the patient as quickly as possible. Sometimes “wall time” creates a transport availability problem and several people are continuing to make this point to hospital administrators. She asked the membership if you want an “ETA” or “responding from location” to determine your ambulance options. It was decided to go with the “responding from X location” information from dispatchers to rescue crews.
AMED – No report.
LAW ENFORCEMENT – Sgt Investigator Fred Cochran says to let them know if you need anything.
CORONER – No report.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY – No report.
LIFESAVER – No report.
AIR-EVAC – No report.
RED CROSS – No report.
GOOD & WELFARE – No report.
OLD BUSINESS:
l Reminder the Blount County Health Care Authority quotes are due March 31 and invoices are due May 31.
l CPR in Progress protocols were discussed for revision after several incidents. Double toning departments over both East & West repeaters tied up any opportunity for response from those dispatched and was also time consuming for dispatchers. Departments will update their mutual aid notifications and advise dispatchers which repeater site they want used. The process will be re-visited at the next meeting.
l Jon discussed a preliminary State of the Association report he had compiled which detailed a recap of Association funds received; number of calls & services provided; number of training hours; number and types of equipment; and a general breakdown of personnel and qualifications.
NEW BUSINESS:
l The Oneonta Business Association will have the June Fling on Saturday, June 6 from 9-3 in downtown on Main Street. A 10x20 booth will be reserved for $25.00 for the Association after a motion from Chief Reed and second by Chief Payne was received. Motion carried by voice vote. Neal Brooks will assist with booth set-up; Station 14 & 80 will work 9-12; Station 9 & 73 will work 12-3.
l Chief Reed recognized Chairman Jon Head for receiving a scholarship award to attend the Fire Department Instructors Conference in Indianapolis this summer. Jon was one of 25 fire service members around the nation to receive this scholarship. He will have an opportunity to attend numerous training classes during the week long event.
l A MAYDAY procedure proposal was distributed which has been reviewed and approved by 911 administration. Dispatchers will be trained using these protocols.
The next meeting will be April 2 at the Blountsville VFW. The meal will be at 6:30 sponsored by Brindlee Mountain Fire Apparatus.